NB TCLÉ Reading & Writing key terms

The central point a text conveys, which the other sentences support or develop; identifying it requires distinguishing essential content from examples and details.

A supporting point that reinforces or illustrates the main idea without being the text's central claim; it often appears as an example, cause, or consequence.

The broad subject or topic a text addresses, stated in a few words; it differs from the main idea, which expresses what the text asserts about that subject.

The purpose behind a text, such as informing, persuading, describing, or entertaining; it guides how the reader interprets tone and selection of detail.

Information stated directly in the text, requiring only accurate location and reading rather than interpretation; answers to such questions can be pointed to in a specific sentence.

The skill of scanning a text quickly to locate a specific word, name, date, or figure without reading every sentence closely.

A conclusion drawn from clues in the text plus general knowledge, though it is not stated outright; valid inferences must be supported by textual evidence.

A meaning implied rather than expressed, often conveyed through word choice or what is deliberately left unsaid; readers must read between the lines to recover it.

The surrounding words, sentences, or situation that clarify the meaning of an expression; it is the primary tool for resolving ambiguous vocabulary.

A word with a meaning close to another's, though rarely identical in register or nuance; choosing among synonyms depends on context and tone.

A word expressing the opposite of another, such as clair and obscur; antonym pairs often appear in contrast structures that reveal meaning.

A subtle difference in meaning, intensity, or tone between near-equivalent words; ignoring nuance leads to answers that are almost but not quite correct.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, as opposed to a figurative extension; for example, a burning fire versus a burning question.

A non-literal use of a word that conveys meaning through comparison or imagery; recognizing it prevents misreading expressions such as avoir le coeur lourd.

A fixed phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from its individual words, such as poser un lapin; it must be learned as a whole unit.

The element of a clause that performs the action or about which the verb says something; it governs verb agreement in number and person.

The word expressing an action, state, or occurrence; it carries tense, mood, and agreement information and anchors the clause's structure.

Agreement in gender and number between related words, such as noun and adjective or subject and verb; errors here are among the most frequently tested.

The verb form used in compound past tenses and as an adjective; its agreement depends on auxiliary and object position, a common source of error.

The category indicating when an action occurs and how it relates to other events, such as present, past, or future; choice affects coherence of a narrative.

The rules governing how the tense of a subordinate clause adjusts to the tense of the main clause, especially in reported speech and conditional structures.

A clause dependent on a main clause, introduced by a conjunction or relative pronoun; it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

A word or phrase signalling relationships between ideas, such as cause, contrast, or consequence; it is essential for coherent argument and clear sequencing.

The logical unity of a text, achieved when ideas follow one another in a clear, justified order and every sentence contributes to the whole.

The surface linking of sentences through pronouns, repetition, and connectors so that the text reads as a connected whole rather than isolated statements.

Reference back to a previously mentioned element using a pronoun or substitute, such as il or ce dernier; unclear anaphora causes ambiguity.

The entity in the real or textual world that a word or pronoun points to; identifying it correctly is necessary for tracking who does what.

The quality of a sentence that admits more than one interpretation, usually because of unclear reference, misplaced modifiers, or ambiguous word order.

The quality of writing that is easy to understand because sentences are well ordered, concise, and free of unnecessary abstraction or ambiguity.

Expressing an idea in the fewest words needed without losing meaning; it removes redundancy and strengthens the force of a sentence.

The level of formality in language, ranging from familiar to formal; it must suit the audience and situation for the writing to be appropriate.

The attitude a writer conveys toward the subject or reader, such as ironic, neutral, or urgent; it is created through word choice and sentence structure.

The intended reader or audience of a text; awareness of the recipient shapes vocabulary, level of detail, and degree of formality.

A conventional closing or opening expression in correspondence, whose exact wording depends on the relationship and relative status of writer and recipient.

The conventional spelling of words, including silent letters, doubled consonants, and accents; accuracy is required in formal written production.

A diacritic mark placed on a vowel to indicate pronunciation, distinguish homophones, or mark a grammatical form; its omission can change meaning.

A word pronounced like another but spelled differently, such as mer, mère, and maire; correct choice depends on grammatical function in context.

The system of marks such as commas, periods, and semicolons that organizes sentences and clarifies relationships; faulty punctuation can alter meaning entirely.

A punctuation mark separating elements within a sentence; it should not stand between subject and verb or join two independent clauses without a conjunction.

The redundant repetition of an idea already expressed, as in monter en haut; it weakens style and is often tested in correction exercises.